UN Says Africa Now Has Highest Number of Hungry People

A new United Nations report says Africa has become the continent with the highest number of people facing hunger for the first time.

The annual Food Security and Nutrition report estimates that about 309 million people, representing 20 per cent of Africa's population, experienced hunger in 2025.

The report, produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization and four other UN agencies, says Asia follows with 292 million undernourished people, representing about six per cent of its population.

FAO Agrifood Economics Division Director, David Laborde, said the global centre of hunger has shifted from Asia to Africa as countries like China have made significant progress in tackling food insecurity.

Despite the situation in Africa, the report notes that global hunger has declined from 8.6 per cent of the world's population in 2022 to 7.8 per cent in 2025, reducing the number of hungry people by about 43 million.

The UN agencies, however, warn that hunger levels remain above pre-COVID-19 figures, although there are early signs that undernourishment in Africa may be beginning to improve.